Save the Date: Gather the Group

being able to learn, practice, and hone your skills. Storytelling is not an exception. In fact, it is almost the rule for a good speech. We should be able to transcend the mundane facts, whether historical, actual, or a fantasy, and liven things up with a story. 1843. The Oregon Trail was the way to the promised land of plenty. The wagons, horses, and people walked overland to the Oregon Territory (now, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and part of California). Perhaps you listen to these details and begin to drift off, or replay last night’s game in your mind.

As storytellers, we should be able to make the experience come alive. Choose someone who was an actual participant in the Trail and relate the story from their experience. Make up a story about a fictionalized character. Do whatever it takes to not only teach, but to entertain, then you become the storyteller you wanted to become.

I have never regretted for a moment the time I spent learning from my mentors, selecting some morsel of skill from them and then applying it in my day-to-day life. The same goes for being in Toastmasters. I was a voiceless storyteller, lacking the skills and confidence to be a raconteur until I mastered the opportunities offered by the Toastmasters education program. It is now personalized, available digitally, and with so many Zoom club meetings available, the world has become our stage. I titled this month’s Gleanings Carpe Potestatum, which means “seize the opportunity.” Fellow Toastmasters, you can do the same. Reach out. Speak out. And tell your story.

Have you heard how Portland received its name? Let me tell you about two business partners, two names, and a penny. It began in. . .